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£20,000 reward for missing boy information

Police have announced a £20,000 reward for information about a 15-year-old boy who went missing 26 years ago.

The reward is for information police hope would lead to the recovery of Lee Boxell's body and the prosecution of those involved.

Lee was last seen in 1988 Credit: Metropolitan Police

Lee was last seen on Saturday, 10 September 1988 on Sutton High Street.The original inquiry into Lee's disappearance believed he went to watch a football game at Selhurst Park but he'd never been to the ground before.

The last known sighting was at 2.20pm- which wouldn't have given him enough time to get to the ground for kick-off at 3pm.

Lee used to attend an unofficial youth club in an out-building in Cheam, which was known locally as the 'shed'. It was a place where teenagers could gather to drink and smoke.

Detectives think it possible that he went to the shed to meet friends that afternoon and came to some harm that day or shortly afterwards.

Officers also know of paedophile activity amongst a group of offenders in the Cheam area at the time Lee disappeared.

Peter, Lee's father, said: "I am pleased the police are funding this reward and would appeal to anyone with information to come forward."We, Lee's family, need answers to what happened to Lee. Someone in this community can give us those answers. Please help us bring Lee home."

Detective Insp. John McQuade said: "The launch of a £20,000 reward today coincides with what would have been Lee's 41st birthday on Sunday 16 February."We've been trying to solve the mystery of Lee's disappearance for 26 years now and have carried out extensive enquiries and appeals over the years.

"There are two working theories - that Lee was the victim of a sexual assault that resulted in his death or that he intervened to try to help someone else and was assaulted...Someone knows what happened to Lee and where his body is buried."